Every filing season, IRS notices spike, and for many taxpayers, the timing feels overwhelming. Just as people are preparing to file or waiting for a refund, an unexpected letter from the IRS arrives and immediately raises concern.
This isn’t random. Filing season is when the Internal Revenue Service processes massive volumes of tax data, automated reviews accelerate, and unresolved issues finally surface. Knowing why these notices increase, and what to do first, can prevent penalties, refund delays, and unnecessary enforcement. If you’ve received an IRS notice, don’t guess and don’t delay, call 678-717-9818, email steve@bookstaxesatl.com, or connect with Steve Perry, EA on LinkedIn to get clarity before the issue escalates.
Why IRS Notices Spike During Filing Season
Filing season creates a perfect storm of automation, backlog cleanup, and data matching.
Automated income matching ramps up as returns are filed, the IRS compares them against W-2s, 1099s, payroll filings, brokerage reports, and digital asset reporting. Even small discrepancies can trigger automated notices, often without human review.
Prior-year problems resurface when a current return pulls unresolved issues forward, including unfiled returns, unpaid balances, or past notices that were never answered. Many taxpayers assume these issues have disappeared. Filing season proves they didn’t.
IRS backlogs delay correspondence, due to staffing shortages and processing delays, many notices mailed during filing season relate to issues from months or even years earlier. The notice feels sudden, but the problem isn’t new.
Refund holds become more common when potential errors or identity concerns are detected, refunds are often frozen while the IRS requests verification or documentation, and until the issue is resolved, the refund remains on hold.
The Worst Mistake Taxpayers Make
Ignoring the notice.
IRS notices do not resolve themselves. Each unanswered letter increases penalties, interest, and enforcement risk. Some notices include strict deadlines and missing them can permanently limit appeal rights.
What To Do First When an IRS Notice Arrives
Identify the notice by reviewing the notice number, tax year involved, and response deadline. Not all notices are equal, some are informational, others are the first step toward collection action.
Do not call blindly. Contacting the IRS without understanding the issue can lock in incorrect statements or trigger unnecessary reviews. Strategy matters before any call is made. The best strategy is to not call the IRS but have a tax professional make the call. Remember the IRS is NOT your friend. They are the prosecutor. You need to be represented.
Have the notice reviewed professionally. An Enrolled Agent can confirm whether the IRS is correct, explain what triggered the notice, and respond properly before the issue escalates. Before you respond to an IRS notice or file your return, get clarity first, call Steve Perry, EA at 678-717-9818, email steve@bookstaxesatl.com, or reach out through Steve Perry, EA on LinkedIn to review the notice properly.
Why Filing Season Is the Worst Time to DIY an IRS Notice
During filing season, IRS systems move faster and mistakes compound more quickly. A small error in February can turn into liens, levies, or wage garnishments by summer.
What feels manageable today can become far more expensive tomorrow.
How Books, Taxes & More Helps
At Books, Taxes & More, Steve Perry, EA helps taxpayers decode IRS notices quickly, respond correctly the first time, and prevent unnecessary enforcement. Early action keeps IRS problems from growing. If you’ve received an IRS notice, or expect one during filing season, act before the next letter arrives, call 678-717-9818, email steve@bookstaxesatl.com, or connect with Steve Perry, EA on LinkedIn to stop the issue from growing.
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